Roadtrip Across America (Introduction)

Driving across the unknown road ways of America is a pilgrimage that many people have taken in their lifetime since the rush for gold paved the way for the Oregon Trail in the mid 1800's. Highways spanning East to West and North to South is a constant reminder of the wonders of the American landscape. At this time in my life, I have the opportunity to see this great country from the roadsides of America. I will be caravanning with my partner Jonathan Haeber from the West to the East Coast. (Jon is a renowned photographer and author. He was recently accepted into the UMASS graduate program, which was one of many reasons for this exploration.) We plan to take 10-11 day across the Southern Midwestern route starting in the San Francisco Bay Area and ending in Amherst, MA. We plan on beginning south down highway 99 to Fresno. Then cutting down towards Palm Springs then cross over from the highway 10 to 17 to highway 40. We will end up continuing to take highway 40 over the remainder of our journey with slight meanderings along the way along the historic route 66. Right now we are looking forward to the open trail blazed before us and the adventures that lay ahead.

From the weird and bizarre, to the mundane and ordinary, I will be attempting to capture the American landscape through the scope of an explorer trying to find sense of American culture along the highways. At the end of our journey I hope to have a deeper understanding of not only what is "American culture along the highways" but what is the motivation behind this culture.